Scene-shifting mechanism.



No. 769,511. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. H. S. THOMAS. SCENE SHIFTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 1 WITNESSES. INVENTUR /424... 144W? 4 @;;W/ Q

A TTOl-TNE YS PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

H. S. THOMAS. SCENE SHIFTI-NG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NO MODEL.

wmvzssss; //v VENTOH M, g a y fliyxifomaa W n B y J ATTORNEYS Patented September 6, 1904.

HUGH S. THOMAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SCENE-SHIFTING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,511,

dated September 6, 1904.

Application filed August 18, 1903- Serial No. 169,922. No model) To It 'llxlm'l'n, it m/ty concern:

Be it known that 1, HUGH S. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, (Coney Island, borough of Brooklyn.) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Scene-Shifting Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for shifting scenic curtains, an object being to provide a simple mechanism arranged in a comparatively small space, where by a plurality of screens may be raised and lowered, one independently of another, to produce varying effects or illusions or to display suitable backgrounds.

1 will describe ascene-shifting mechanism embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in perspective and partly in side view, of a scene-shifting mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the lifting and lowering mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section, on the linea' 41' of Fig. Fig. 4C is a perspective detail view showing a shifting-gear employed. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 1/ 3/ of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line .2 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a plurality of scenic curtains or effects arranged rearward one of another. Each scene is designed to be moved vertically and independently of the others, and the mechanism comprises a winding-drum for each curtain or scene. These several winding-drums are arranged in a suitable frame 2.

As the raising and lowering devices for the several curtains are of like construction, a description of one will answer for all. From a curtain or scene 1 side ropes 3 4t extend upward around side pulleys 5 6, thence around horizontally-disposed pulleys '7 8 to connection with a main draw line or cable 9. This draw line or cable 9 also has connection with the center of the curtain, the said connection being indicated at 10 and passing over a pulley 11. The draw rope or cable 9 passes through an opening in the back wall of the stage or like place and engages with a winding-drum 12, mounted in the frame 2. The winding-drum, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, is made hollow for the sake of lightness, and on one end it is provided with a flange 13, through which bolts 1i pass, connecting the drum to a worm-wheel 15, secured to a shaft 16, having bearings in said frame 2.

Engaging with the worm-wheel is a worm 17, the shaft 18 of which has bearings in boxes on a yoke 19, supported in the frame. On this shaft 18 is a bevel friction-wheel 20, designed to be engaged with either one of the bevel friction-wheels 21 22, attached to a shaft 23, designed to have lengthwise movement through its bearings, and on one end of this shaft 23 is a pulley 2%, from which a band 25 extends to a connection with a pulley 26 on a driving-shaft 27. It may be here stated that I employ friction-gears instead of tooth-gearing, so as to reduce the noise or rattling to a minimum. Besides, with toothed gears the teeth would be liable to be broken by the jar of suddenly starting and stopping.

One end of the shaft 23 rotates in a sleeve 28, which extends through a boxing 29. This boxing is provided with an angularly-disposed slot 30, through which a pin 31 from the sleeve 28 passes. The sleeve 28 at its inner end abuts against a collar 32, secured to the shaft 23, and at its outer end the said sleeve abuts against a collar on the shaft. Secured to the outer end of the sleeve 28 is an arm 34. As here shown, this arm 3% is provided with a ring 35, which receives the end of the sleeve and is secured thereto by a set-bolt 36. Mounted to swing on a substantially horizontal plane on the end of the arm 34: is a lever 37, provided with a slot38, through which the rope or cable 9 passes. By forming a swinging connection between the parts 37' and 34: and also by providing the part 37 with a slot it is obvious that the lever or part 37 may move with the rope or cable as it winds along the drum.

At a suitable point on the rope or cable is secured a block 39,'which is too large to pass through the slot 38, and therefore will engage with the lever 37 to cause its downward movement, as will be hereinafter described. On the rope or cable, also on the oppositeside of the lever from the blocks or buttons 39, additional buttons 39 are secured in position to engage the lever and throw the same upward when the rope moves upward to lower the curtain.

In the operation the driving-shaft 27 will be in constant rotation; but as the several shafts 23 are moved to a position to carry the friction-wheels thereon out of engagement with the friction-wheels 20 no motion will be imparted to the drums, and therefore the several curtains will remain stationary.

, When it is desired to raise one of the curtainssay the first curtainthe arm 34 is to be drawn upward, manually shifting the shaft 23 longitudinally to engage the friction-wheel 22 with the wheel 20, and through this medium the drum for said curtain will be rotated, and upon reaching the limit of its upward movement the block 39 on the liftingcable of said curtain will engage with the lever 37, forcing it downward, and by rotating the sleeve 28 will shift the shaft 23 sufliciently to carry the wheel 22 out of engagement with the wheel 20, but not sufficiently far to engage the wheel 21 with said wheel 20, and therefore the curtain will stop in its upward movement, and it will be thus held by the worm mechanism. This position of the wheels 21 22 is indicated by the dotted lines at theleft-hand end of Fig. 2. Nowif the next curtain is to be raised its mechanism is to be placed in gear, as above described. WVhen itis desired to lower a curtain, the lever 34 is to be forced downward manually, causing the wheel 21 to engage with the wheel 20. Then of course a reverse motion will be imparted to the drum, thus lowering the curtain. When the curtain has reached its lower position, the button or block 39 will shift the lever to throw the drum out of operation. Upon the curtain reaching its lowermost position the shaft 23 is to be shifted to disengage both of its friction-wheels from the friction-wheel on the worm-shaft.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a movable scenic member, of a winding-drum, a rope extended from the scenic member to the winding-drum,

a reversing-gear for the drum, and a device carried by the rope for moving the shiftinggear toward a reversing position.

2. The combination with a movable scenic member of a reversible actuating mechanism, a movable reversing device, and an actuating device serving to move the reversing device automatically in either direction to a predetermined position, said reversing device being movable manually beyond said position.

3. The combination with a movable scenic member of a reversible actuating mechanism, a movable reversing device, and an actuating device serving to move the reversing device automatically to a predetermined position, said reversing device being movable manually beyond said position.

4. A mechanism for shifting a plurality of scenic curtains, in combination with scenic curtains said mechanism comprising a winding-drum for each curtain, a cable extended from said curtain to its winding-drum, a shaft having gear connections with the drum, a second shaft for driving the first-named shaft, means for connecting the first-named shaft with the last-named shaft, for rotating the drum in reverse directions, and means comprising devices carried by the cables for shifting the driving connections.

5. The combination with a plurality of vertically-movable scenic devices, of a plurality of winding-drums, there being one windingdrum for each scenic device, ropes extending from the drums to the scenic devices, shifting driving-gears for said drums, and devices carried by the cables for shifting said driving devices.

6. In a scenic shifting mechanism, the combination with a plurality of scenic curtains of a plurality of winding-drums, a rope extending from each drum to, a curtain, each drum having a worm-wheel, a worm engaging with said wheel, afriction-wheel on the worm-shaft, a counter-shaft movable lengthwise in its bearings, friction-wheels on said countershaft adapted for engaging with the first-named friction-wheels at opposite sides, a sleeve in which one end of the counter-shaft rotates, a boxing in which said sleeve has longitudinal movement, the said boxing having an angularly-disposed slot, a pin extended from the sleeve through the said slot, an arm attached to the sleeve, a slotted lever having swinging connection with said arm, a cable attached to the drum and extending through said slot, and a-block on the cable for engaging with said lever to rock the arm downward and shift the counter-shaft to disengage the driving devices.

7 The combination with a plurality of vertically-movable scenic curtains, of a plurality of winding-drums, cable connections between the winding-drums and curtains, a drivingshaft common to all of thewinding-drums, means for independently placing each winding-drum in driving engagement with said driving-shaft, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of the drums.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' HUGH S. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

J NO. M. BITTER, F. W. HANAF'ORD. 

